A Baroque castle, an octagonal church and a designated nature reserve offer different ways to explore Zirnau. The village’s history is reflected in its buildings and a monument, while the surrounding countryside offers views of a landscape of ponds and distant mountain ranges. When planning your visit, you can therefore choose between architectural details, local history and scenery.

A Landscape of Ponds and a Protected Area

Zirnau lies on the edge of the Hlubocká (Zbudovská) Basin, in a landscape of ponds and historic buildings. Views from the countryside around the village extend as far as Blanský les and the Bohemian Forest. How far you can see depends on the weather; the two named landscape areas give these views a clear direction.

Since Government Regulation No. 132/2005 Coll., Radomilická mokřina has been a European Site of Community Importance. Its site code is CZ0313116. It was also designated a nature reserve by Resolution No. 30/2011 of the Council of the South Bohemian Region. Within the municipality of Dříteň, areas in the cadastral territory of Záblatí are part of the European protected area. These designated protection categories form a distinct aspect of the landscape alongside its ponds and historic buildings.

The Castle and Church as Architectural Testimony

In the central area of Zirnau is a Baroque castle with an adjoining agricultural complex and public square. The combination of the castle, agricultural complex and square shapes the village centre through their different architectural functions. You can use the castle as a starting point for understanding Zirnau’s townscape and historic buildings.

The Church of Saint Dismas was built in 1691 by Giacomo Antonio de Maggi, an architect to the Schwarzenbergs. Its Baroque ground plan is octagonal; it also has a projecting west tower and a rectangular presbytery. The term central-plan building refers to a form of architecture organised around a centre. Here, the octagon defines the central form, while the rectangular presbytery adds a differently shaped part of the building. This makes it possible to distinguish several architectural elements in the church rather than seeing it simply as a single, unified structure. The church is accessible during services. So if you are planning to visit the interior, check the service schedule.

Monument, Blacksmith’s Workshop and Cultural Programme

The statue of Saint John of Nepomuk is a cultural monument dating from 1757. It originally stood by the castle. This historic connection adds a single, dated monument to the village’s architectural history.

The former blacksmith’s workshop can also be described through its architectural form: the plastered masonry building has a rectangular ground plan and a pitched roof covered with tiles. A classical semi-elliptical arch opens onto the work area of the entrance hall. A description from 2025 identifies the pub “Hospůdka na kovárně” as the former blacksmith’s workshop’s current use. Since this use may change, check before visiting whether it is still operating.

A public performance of “Drákula” took place at the Dříteň Castle Cultural, Social and Educational Centre. If you would like to include theatre in your travel plans, check the dates for your travel period. The options differ mainly in when they are available: for an indoor visit to the church, check the service schedule; for theatre and the pub, check their respective offerings. The castle and monument also provide historic points of reference for your exploration.

Discover more destinations: Betschitz, Malé Chrášťany, Planá U Českých Budějovic, Plav, Strobnitz, Kamenná, Tschejkowitz, Schwiehalm.

Go to the regional travel overview: Okres České Budějovice.